Diamond Notes

I have decided to start doing a MySQL podcast. I have been working with MySQL longer than the average bear (MySQL was first released to public in 1995 - I started using it around 1998 or 1999). I have seen it mature into a stable product around the time of the the 3.23 release. During this time frame I worked at Internet company in the San Francisco area. We had a Sun box (an E4500 if memory serves) that ran our database. We were receiving 180 million queries a day on the database. Day after day after day…. This was in 2000. Since then, of course, even more features have been added. With the clustering features of 5.x you have a database system that is as good as anything available at any cost. For the price of the hardware you can build a system that is as large as needed. Server blows ups on you..no problem..True “5 9’s” stuff. In fact, the clustering was originally developed for Telcos. This type of uptime is mission-critical to them.

Sorry for the long ramble. For a product with so many installations (10 million estimated) - there really is very little information available. I only find one podcast that is exclusively about MySQL. So, I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I will try and cover as much as is feasible when it comes to MySQL. I will concentrate on DBA information but I am sure we will swing over into developer land from time to time. I will try and bring in people from the front line to talk about their work and what is their perspective of MySQL. I encourage feedback from the listeners. Just send email to bmurphy at paragon-cs.com. I am going to begin planning the first ‘cast and getting it recorded. I am planning on two ‘cast a month. Look for the first one to be available around the end of February.

So, here it is. My first official blog. I have been actively involved with computers and the Internet since around 1992. I also happen to write - I am finishing the final copy of my first book (shameless plug..it’s on computer and network security..will be available second quarter of 2007..stay tuned). Even so, I have never been drawn to the whole blogging thing. I don’t know..just didn’t. Anyways, I am going to be using this blog to explain some of the new services we are making available at Paragon Consulting Services. Paragon is the company I started a few years ago doing consulting work. So this is where we start.

Note about the name of the blog. Diamond Notes may seem a weird name. Maybe so, but there is a reason behind the name. The reason why I chose Paragon as the name for my consulting services is that paragon means a model of excellence. It also means a large diamond - hence Diamond Notes.